Jacquard machine with individual electromagnetically controlled heddles



9, 1966 w. ZANGERLE ETAL 3,265,096

' JACQUARD MACHINE WITH INDIVIDUAL ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED HEDDLES Filed Feb. 3. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR ATTORNEY g- 1965 w. ZANGERLE ETAL 3,

JACQUARD MACHINE WITH INDIVIDUAL ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED HEDDLES Filed Feb. 5. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 250 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent ice 3 265 096 JACQUARD MACHINE WiTH lNDWlDUAL ELEC- TROMAGNETICALLY CUNTROLLED HEDDLES Walter Zangerle, Zurich, and Heinrich Feud, Uster,

Zurich, witzerland, assignors to fleriikon-Buhrle Holding AG. (Gerlilron-Euehrle Holding SA.) (Ger- ;iifln-Buehrle Hoiding Ltd), (ieriikon, Zurich, Switzer- Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,600 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 13, 1963, 1,896/63 10 flaims. ((31. 13959) The present invention has reference to a Jacquard machine provided with individual electromagnetically controlled heddles, particularly such possessing high operating speeds and electronic generation or transmission of the control pulses for designing of patterns. In the first instance there comes under consideration the wave weaving loom, since with classical looms the operating speed is not only limited by shedding, but rather is likewise limited to the same degree by weft insertion.

With the known machines the warp threads for the purpose of figuring patterns are moved by means of the heddles vertical to the warp surface by two forces, of which the one stronger force acts intermittently in one direction, namely the rearward or backward direction, and the other weaker force acts continuously in the other direction, that is the forward direction. Furthermore, the warp threads are controlled in one end or terminal position by locking devices, and temporarily stationarily held or restrained.

Besides the mechanically controlled locking devices which are controlled by means of perforated or punch cards or the like, there are also known to the art electromagnetically controlled machines in which the mechanical scanning of the pattern cards is effected by electromechanical scanning by means of contacts. The transmission of these pattern impulses to the heddles and thereby the Warp threads occurs, in this instanceinstead of from the locking device to the heddles by means of chords as was previously the case-from the scanning device by means of electric conductors to electromagnets arranged directly at the machine and provided with a locking device. In this case, however, there is hardly achieved a speed increase of the operating cycle and the expenditure is also not less than with the conventional mechanical techniques.

Moreover, such a mechanical/electrical scanning is complicated and cumbersome, the scanning operation requiring a certain expenditure of time, and the magnets employed for actuation of the locking devices, of necessity, possessing a predetermined dimension or size which, in turn, influences the attainable set of warp. Noise generation and current consumption are further reasons which make such an arrangement impracticable. Also, for the control of the electromagnetic locking devices through the agency of electronic means, the expenditure is intolerable in consequence of high current consumption and the large number of elements to be controlled, completely considered apart from the fact that the attainable operating speed is still limited by the conventional locking devices.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages.

The Jacquard machine according to the present invention is generally characterized by the features that, each heddle exhibits a recess or notch and each such heddle is further provided with a magnet system which possesses an armature advantageously constructed as a flat or blade spring. Such fiat spring in its normal position extends with its free end into the path of travel or the notch of the associated heddle due to its inherent or internal stress. Moreover, this spring, during the return movement of the 3,Z5,% Patented August 9, 1966 heddle, is pressed by such against the magnet core and during its forward movement, depending upon excitation of the magnet system, is either held against the core so that the heddle movement is rendered unobstructed, or is freed from such core and engages with the notch or recess of the heddle so that the heddle can be held in its end or terminal position.

Furthermore, the present invention has reference to an improved process for the operation of the Jacquard machine which is manifested by the features that, there is employed an electromagnet exhibiting a permanent magnet, the magnetic flux of which is closed via a bracket, the core and via the flat spring when the latter bears against the core, with the aforesaid core being encircled by a coil the magnetizing direction of which works against the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet, so that with a current-conducting coil the core does not possess any force of attraction.

Advantageously, the inventive Jacquard machine can be employed with standard or wave weaving looms. The mechanism of the intermittently effective force is thus different. Whereas, in the first instance it moves all heddles at the same time and the control impulses for all magnets must occur simultaneously, the actuation of the heddles with wave weaving looms is divided among different side-by-side arranged carriers of the intermittently eifective force which carry out a movement which is staggered in time in accordance with the wave motion. Thus, the control impulses at the magnets do not occur simultaneously for all magnets, rather separately for each group. Within one such group of a Wave weaving loom the heddle control thus occurs in exactly the same manner as usual over the full width of a normal or standard weaving machine.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates in side view a weaving loom provided with an arrangement of two locking devices for controlling the associated heddles;

FIGURE 2 illustrates details of a preferred embodiment of such a locking device;

FIGURE 3 depicts the same locking device of FIG- URE 2 with the other end position of the heddle;

FIGURE 4 depicts the locking device of FIGURES 2 and 3 with locked heddle;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the locking device of FIGURE 2 at the moment of release of the locking or retaining spring; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view through a heddle mounted in its guide, taken along lines VI-VI of FIG- URE 5, and showing details.

Describing now the drawings, it should be appreciated that FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates in side view, by way of illustration and not limitation, portions of a weaving loom with which the invention can be employed. The warp 11 is wound about a warp beam 10'. This Warp 11 extends over a standard tensioning beam or roller 12 to the heddles 13 and 13' provided with the eyelets 32 and 32', respectively. From this location it travels to the cloth edge or fell 14, from where the finished material is wound upon a cloth beam 18 after it has passed a breast beam 15 and a controller or indexing cylinder 16 provided with press-on or pressure roller 17. The shuttle 21 is in known manner transported through the shed 19 formed by the warp threads 11. Tension springs 23 and 23' are secured to a stationary support 22, such springs supporting at their free ends the respective heddles 13 and 13'.

In the region of the other or opposite ends of the heddles 13 and 13 there are arranged both of the locking devices 25 and 25, respectively. Each locking device and 25 is operably associated with a specially configured heddle portion or end 24 and 24, respectively. The eyelets 32 and 32' through which the respective warp threads 33 and 33" extend are accommodated at the heddies 13 and 13, respectively. The drive or displacement mechanism for the intermittent effective force comprises a slide or pusher 26 provided with two depending lugs or arms 27 and 27 carrying pins 28 and 28', respectively. The slide 26 is displaceably supported in both of the bearings 29 and is operatively connected with a rotatable crank plate or disk 31 through the agency of a connecting rod 30. It will be appreciated that for convenience in illustration only a pair of heddles 13 and 13' have been shown, yet in actual practice the loom will exhibit a considerably larger number of heddles and associated arangement. At any rate, enough structure will be shown and described to enable the initiated to readily understand the inventive concepts.

In FIGURES 2 to 6 wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate the same or analogous elements, there are depicted specially constructed electromagnets providing locking devices 25a which can be used for carrying out the inventive process for operating the Jacquard machine. A heddle portion or heddle extension member 24 is connected to each heddle 13, and is arranged in the region of the drive or displacement mechanism incorporating slide 26 producing the intermittent motion. The heddle portion 24 slides in a guide groove 35 which is carved into or otherwise provided at a guide portion 34 of locking device 25a. A support arm 42 is connected to the guide portion 34 and serves as a support for a magnet system, generally designated by reference character 56. This magnet system 50 is composed of a permanent magnet 38 which is in conductive connection via a bracket or stirrup 39 with a magnet core 36. This core 36 is surrounded by a coil 37 providing a winding.

The permanent magnet 38 is in conductive connection with a blade or fiat spring 40 functioning as an armature, so that the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet 38 is closed via the bracket 39, the magnet core 36 and the flat spring 40 when such fiat spring 40 bears against core 36. When this occurs the flat spring 40 is fixedly held against the core 36 due to the permanently present magnetic flux. The flat spring 40 exhibits at its free end a bent or flexed portion 41 which, due to the inherent or internal tension or stress of the spring 40 when such is released by the magnet core 36, comes to bear against a bearing surface 43 provided at the flat spring rest or support 34. The magnet core 36, as previously mentioned, is surrounded by a coil 37, and indeed, in such a manner that with current flow through this coil 37 the magnetization appearing in the magnet core 36 offsets the permanent magnetic flux or opposes such. Thus, if the fiat spring 40 lies against the magnet core 36 and the latter is excited by the winding or coi137 no magnetic force appears in the core 36 and the flat spring 40 is released from this core, thereby moving with its free flexed end 41 under the action of its internal stress upwardly against the spring support or bearing surface 43.

The heddle portion 24 exhibits a notch or recess 47 extending from its lower face or edge 24" and bounded by both of the flanks or sides 44 and 45 (FIGURE 5). The forward flank 45 is arched and rounded towards the lower face or surface 24". The nose-shaped section 24." of the heddle portion 24 lying behind the notch 47 is somewhat recessed or upwardly offset with respect to the forward portion thereof, so that the heddle portion 24 can freely move towards the left after the flat spring 40 has been pressed against the magnet core 36. Furthermore, the heddle portion or extension member 24 is provided at its upper side with a forwardly open, substantially U-shaped entrainment or catch notch or recess 46, and into which there is adapted to engage a pin or bolt 28 applied to an arm or lug 27 of the slide 26 during return movement of the slide 26, therefore being able to rearwardly take along the heddle 13.

The general operation of the apparatus described up to the present and particularly the physical structure of FIGURE 1 is as folows:

The warp threads 11 and, in particular the exemplary warp thread 33, 33, of FIGURE 1 extends between the tensioning beam 12 and the breast beam 15 with a certain tension. By laterally withdrawing or displacing the associated heddle, such as heddle 13, in this case to the left or right, the shed 19 is thereby formed in the usual manner. The shuttle 21 moves through such shed 19 in order to insert the weft thread, as is known. With the Jacquard machines or weaving looms a group of warp threads 33 generally always remains in the basic position (to the right) whereas a different group 33 is always raised for the production of a predetermined pattern and for shed formation to permit passage of the shuttle. After each pick of the shuttle 21 the raised threads return to their initial or starting position, and for the subsequent shuttle passage an optionally different composed warp thread group is raised for the production of a given figured pattern.

The heddles 13, in the illustrated embodiment, are held in their basic position against the tension of the constantly effective force of the spring 23 by the locking devices 25. In order to change the shed 19 for each shuttle the crank 31 rotates and thus moves the slide 26 to and fro. As -a result, in the right end position the pins 28 come to rest each time in the catch or entrainment notch 46 of the associated heddle portion 24, that is all the heddles are suspended upon their associated pin 28 shortly before the end of the troke of the slide 26 and slightly raised from the bearing surface 43 of the stationary guide portion or member 34. The locking devices 25 now determine which heddles may move the next time with the slide or pusher 26 and can be pulled to the left by the spring 23. The slide 26 can, if such is required for the passage of the shuttle, remain for a short period of time in this end of terminal position. Such i particularly required with standard weaving looms until a shuttle has passed the entire cloth width, whereas with wave weaving looms the shed opens directly in front of a shuttle and immediately thereafter changes into the next position.

In FIGURES 2 to 6 there is more fully depicted and explained the guiding, cont-r01 and suspension of the heddles. Thus, in FIGURE 2 the heddle 13 with the heddle portion or end 24 is located exactly in the right dead-center position. The flank 45 of the recess or notch 47 together with the bottom face 24" of the heddle portion 24 have downwardly pressed the flexed spring end 41 during movement of the heddle 13 and heddle portion 24 towards the right, so that the flat spring 40 comes to bear against the magnet core 36. If, at this moment, the winding or coil 37 is not conducting current, supplied from a suitable source (not shown), then the permanent-magnetic force is strong enough to hold the blade or fiat spring 40 in the position shown in FIG- URE 2, also when the heddle portion 24 in contact with the associated pin 28 again moves to the left (FIGURE 3). The heddle 13 with its end portion 24 and under the tension of the spring 23 can thus unhindered follow the slide 26 in its movement towards the left until reaching the left-end position, and again back into the rightend position or control position. The spring 23 is so strong that it together with the heddle 13 and heddle portion 24 joins in all movements of the pin 28, although such engages at only one side in the entrainment or catch notch 46 of the heddle portion.

In FIGURE 4 there is depicted that position which results during forward movement of the slide 26 out of the rear dead-center position, that is towards the left, and when the heddle 13 i held in its end position! Thus, if at the beginning of the movement of the slide 26 to the left, a current impulse occurs at the winding or coil 37, such momentarily weakens the permanentmagnetic field so strongly that such is no longer able to hold the blade spring 40 at the magnet core 36 against its internal stress. This blade spring 40 then drops-01f the core 36 and strives to come to bear against the surface 43 by means of its flexed end 41, as best seen by reference to FIGURE 5. However, it cannot yet accomplish such because the heddle end or portion 24 with its flank 45 is in the way. The slide 26 together with the heddle 13 must thus still move a certain distance to the left before this is possible. During this stroke, the flexed end 41 of the spring 40 simultaneously moves into the notch or recess 47 towards the inside and after bearing against the stationary bearing or rest surface 43 blocks the path of movement for the heddle 13 towards the left. Such, therefore, remains suspended under the tension of the spring 23 while the pin 28 travels empty towards the left and against returns.

The rest or bearing surface 43 is formed so as to be somewhat inclined from the top towards the left bottom for protective reasons, so that the heddle 13 cannot falloif during such time a it is suspended, for example due to shocks. Upon return of the pin 28 it again engages with the catch or entrainment notch 46, releases the heddle portion or end 24 from its stop hearing at the flank or edge 44 of the notch 47. The heddle 13, in turn, at the end of the stroke again presses the blade spring 40 against the magnet core 36, whereby the flexed portion 41 simultaneously again moves out of the notch 47. The magnet system can thereby again deliver a new command.

In FIGURE 5 there is depicted in somewhat greater detail the moment when the blade spring 40 is released from the magnet core 36. Such occurs shortly after passing the dead-center position, but before the flank or face 44 is still spaced a spring thickness from the bearing surface 43. The heddle 13 moves relatively slowly towards the left in the region of its dead center position, whereas the spring in consequence of its internal stress and its very small mass comes to bear very quickly at the flank or face 45 of recess 47. The spring movement in this phase i thus quicker than the movement of the heddle 13, so that the flat or blade spring 4!) slides inwardly in the recess or notch 47 and along the flanks 45. For such reason, the notch or recess 47 must only be slightly wider than the thickness of the blade spring 40. This permits of a suspension or entrainment of the heddle 13 after a very small stroke past the dead-center position, and thereby maintains small the stroke or impact of the heddle against the spring, which in turn guarantees for high-speeds.

The previously described apparatus has the advantage in comparison with heretofore known control apparatus or devices that it permits of high operating speeds. This can be attributed, in the first instance, to the fact that the inherent or internal stress of the flat spring 4t) possesses a very large reaction capability superior to the speed of the to and fro movement of the heddles and, for such reason, renders possible an instantaneous engagement of such flat spring 40 in the notch 47 of the associated heddle. The speed of the to and fro or reciprocable movement of the heddle is thus determinative for the working cycle of the Jacquard machine, and such can be operated at greater speeds than previously. The fact that the movement of the heddle controls the movement of the flat spring is decisive for the operating rhythm or cadence of the entire machine.

A standard known electromagnet can be employed as the electromagnet which eflects retention or release of the flat spring. In this case, the winding or coil 37 must be supplied with current when the magnet core 36 should be magnetized in order to hold the flat spring 44 in its lower position. In addition such requires, however,

6 a longer action of the current upon the coil 37, namely, from the moment Oif contact of the fiat spring 40 until the return of the heddle, and such necessitates a considerable energy expenditure with the large number of magnets generally involved.

The use of the described permanent magnet has the additional advantage that only a short current pulse or surge is necessary through the coil 37, namely, for the situation where the flat spring 44 should be released and through its internal stress should assume its locking position, whereas the retention or locking of the flat spring 40 against the core 36 occurs by means of such permanent magnet without additional expenditure of enengy. The expenditure of energy in this case amounts to only a fractional portion of that occur-ring with the use of standard or normal electromagnets, which with the large number of heddles with associated magnets is of cardinal economic importance. Furthermore, with the utilization of permanent magnets there appears the further advantage that it is possible to associate a plurality (group) of cores 36 provided with coils 37 with a single wide constructed permanent magnet.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Jacquard machine, at least one electromagnetically controlled heddle provided with a recess and operable between two end positions, means for continually applying a first force to displace said heddle in a first direction towards one end position, means for intermittently applying a second force to displace said heddle in a second direction opposite said first direction towards the other end position, said first force being weaker than said second force, an electromagnetically controllable locking device for temporarily restraining said heddle in an operable position into which it is displaced in said second direction by said second force applying means, said electromagnetically controllable locking device incorporating a magnet system including a magnet cor-e, an armature constructed as a flat spring said flat spring having a flexed free end, said flat spring being formed of resilient material possessing suflicient internal stress to induce said flexed free end to normally move into the path of movement of said recess of said heddle, said flat spring during movement of said heddle in said second direction being urged against said magnet core, said flat spring during movement of magnet core when said magnet system is unexcited in order said heddle in said first direction being held against said to render unobstructed the movement of said heddle in said first direction, said flat spring being released from said magnet :core when said magnet system is excited so that said flexed free end engages with said recess of said heddle to restrain the latter in said operable position in said second direction of movement of said heddle.

2. in a Jacquard machine according to claim 1, wherein said magnet system comprises an electromagnet including said magnet core, a winding encircling said magnet core, a permanent magnet, a bracket operably connecting said permanent magnet with said magnet core, the magnetic flux of said permanent magnet being closed via said bracket, said magnet core and said flat spring when the latter bears against said magnet core, said mag-net core possessing a direction of magnetisation opposing the magnetic flux of said permanent magnet in order that said magnet core does not possess any force of attraction during said time as current flows through said winding, said winding carrying current when said flat spring is subjected to the action of its internal stress and it is desired that said flexed free end of said flat spring engage with said recess of said heddle, said winding being without current during such time as said flat spring is maintained against said core and out :of engagement with said recess of said heddle.

3. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 1 wherein said heddle includes a heddle portion provided with said recess, a stationary guide provided with a guide groove in which said heddle portion is guided, said stationary guide being provided with a bearing surface at its free end for said flexed free end of said flat spring.

4. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 3 wherein said magnet core of said magnet system exhibits an effective end situated in the vicinity of said bearing surface, said guide groove being arranged at said stationary guide such that it is covered by the flexed free end of said flat spring when the latter bears against said bearing surface, said bearing surface of said stationary guide and said flexed free end of said fiat spring being corresponding ly inclined forwardly and downwardly with respect to said first direction, so that the region of the heddle portion lying forwardly of said recess displaces said fiat spring during movement of the heddle and its associated heddle portion in said second direction until it comes to rest against said magnet core.

5. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 4 wherein said stationary guide is operatively connected with a support arm serving as carrier for said magnet system.

6. 'In a Jacquard machine according to claim 4 wherein said recess of said heddle portion includes a forward edge which is rounded at its lower end.

7. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 4 wherein said heddle portion provided with said recess is arranged at one end of the associated heddle, said heddle portion further including a forwardly open catch notch adapted to receive a pin of a drive mechanism defining said second force applying means for producing the intermittent movement of the heddle which displaces the latter in said second direction.

8. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 7 wherein said second force applying means comprises a drive mechanism provided with pin means engageable with said catch. notch of an associated heddle.

9. In a Jacquard machine according to claim 7 wherein said heddle portion includes a nose-shaped region disposed rearwardly of said recess, said nose-shaped region possessing a lower surface which is recessed with respect to a lower surface of said region of the heddle portion lying forwardly of said recess and guided within said guide groove.

10. In a weaving loom, in combination, at least one heddle, means for displacing said heddle in a first direction, means for displacing said heddle in a second direction opposite said first direction, each heddle being provided at one end with a heddle portion possessing an open-ended recess, a locking device for selectively restraining said heddle in an end position of said second direction, said locking device incorporating a magnet system including a magnet core and an armature constructed as a flat spring cooperating with said magnet core, said flat spring having a free end, said flat spring being formed of resilient material possessing sufiicient internal stress to induce said free end of said fiat spring to normally move into the path of movement of said open-ended recess, said flat spring during movement of said heddle in said second direction being urged against said magnet core, said fiat spring during movement of said heddle in said first direction being held against said magnet core when said magnet system is unexcited in order to render unobstructed the movement of said heddle in said first direction, said flat spring being released from said magnet core when said magnet system is excited so that said flexed free end engages with said recess of said heddle to restrain the latter in said end posit-ion of said second direction of movement of said heddle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,446 8/ 1896 Gates 13955 1,984,128 12/1934 Goodley 13959 X 2,136,076 11/1938 Fisher et al 139-55 2,136,328 11/1938 Stoehr 139-59 2,204,891 6/1940 Hamilton 139-55 2,714,901 8/1955 Casper 13959 X 3,117,598 1/1964 Burkhalter 13959 X 3,170,312 2/1965 Stock 66-50 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,048,906 8/1953 France.

741,610 '12/ 1955 Great Britain. 825,221 12/ 1959 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, Examiner.

J KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A JACQUARD MACHINE, AT LEAST ONE ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED HEDDLE PROVIDED WITH A RECESS AND OPERABLE BETWEEN TWO END POSITIONS, MEANS FOR CONTINUALLY APPLYING A FIRST FORCE TO DISPLACE SAID HEDDLE IN A FIRST DIRECTION TOWARDS ONE END POSITION, MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY APPLYING A SECOND FORCE TO DISPLACE SAID HEDDLE IN A SECOND DIRECTION OPPOSITE SAID FIRST DIRECTION TOWARDS THE OTHER END POSITION, SAID FIRST FORCE BEING WEAKER THAN SAID SECOND FORCE, AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLABLE LOCKING DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY RESTRAINING SAID HEDDLE IN AN OPERABLE POSITION INTO WHICH IT IS DISPLACED IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION BY SAID SECOND FORCE APPLYING MEANS, SAID ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLABLE LOCKING DEVICE INCORPORATING A MAGNET SYSTEM INCLUDING A MAGNET CORE, AN ARMATURE CONSTRUCTED AS FLAT SPRING, SAID FLAT SPRING HAVING A FLEXED FREE END, SAID FLAT SPRING BEING FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL POSSESSING SUFFICIENT INTERNAL STRESS TO INDUCE SAID FLEXED FREE END TO NORMALLY MOVE INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID RECESS OF SAID HEDDLE, SAID FLAT SPRING DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID HEDDLE IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION BEING URGED AGAINST SAID MAGNET CORE, SAID FLAT SPRING DURING MOVEMENT OF MAGNET CORE WHEN SAID MAGNET SYSTEM IS UNEXCITED IN ORDER SAID HEDDLE IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION BEING HELD AGAINST SAID TO RENDER UNOBSTRUCTED THE MOVEMENT OF SAID HEDDLE IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION, SAID FLAT SPRING BEING RELEASED FROM SAID MAGNET CORE WHEN SAID MAGNET SYSTEM IS EXCITED SO THAT SAID FLEXED FREE END ENGAGES WITH SAID RECESS OF SAID HEDDLE TO RESTRAIN THE LATTER IN SAID OPERABLE POSITION IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID HEDDLE. 